Roof window manufacturer VELUX is committed to corporate transparency and building a brighter, healthier future for its customers.
On top of the realisation that homemade bread is amazing and nonstop videoconferencing is terrible, a couple of things have become abundantly clear over the past couple of years: one, our indoor environments matter — quite a lot. And two, we are all connected. Our actions have a ripple effect, sometimes half a world away.
In light of these revelations, a number of corporations are perking up and paying attention to the impact of their products — on both people and the planet. Organisations ranging from consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to materials manufacturers to tech companies are committing to cleaning up their act.
A focus on sustainability doesn’t always mean exclusive emphasis on carbon emissions. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals outline the importance of focusing not only on environmental impacts, but also on consumers’ mental and physical well-being.
Here’s how one company is setting an example.
Creating healthier indoor environments
VELUX, a roof window manufacturing company, is an industry leader when it comes to sustainable priorities. The organization has pledged to become Lifetime Carbon Neutral by 2041, and its products are designed with health and well-being in mind — which is more relevant than ever in the light of the pandemic and the UN’s third SDG good health and well-being.
Fresh air and daylight have taken on a new meaning for many in recent months. But the importance of these elements is more than just an anecdotal observation. While there’s still no set verdict on the exact relationship between indoor environments and inhabitants’ health and well-being, substantive data shows that both home lighting and air quality have significant impact on everything from circadian rhythm and sleep patterns to respiratory and reproductive health.
Designing indoor environments that are conducive to health and happiness is particularly important nowadays. Joseph Allen, an assistant professor at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and co-author of Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity, asserts in his writing that the combined impacts of under-ventilation and indoor pollution can have major repercussions on both mental and physical health — including upon cognitive functions like concentration, strategic thinking, and decision-making.
“While the ‘green’ building movement introduced important new efficiencies, it’s time to look beyond the four walls — placing the decisions we make around buildings into the larger conversation around development and health, and prioritising the most important and vulnerable asset of any building: its people,” noted the Harvard University Press in an overview of the book.
Now, with so many people working, learning, and entertaining themselves at home, it’s even more crucial that indoor spaces are healthy, well ventilated, and infused with daylight. VELUX has taken these insights to heart whilst designing its latest line of sturdy, innovative products. The company’s roof windows allow for panoramic views, improved ventilation, and increased access to natural light. Their CABRIO® window even lets homeowners open up stuffy spaces by creating an instant balcony. These products are built to last from sustainable wood, simple to maintain and repair, and can be easily upgraded later on if tastes or preferences change. VELUX’s commitment to the highest-quality materials also means that its products last for generations, which leads to less waste.
An emphasis on transparency
A successful future begins by examining the past. On top of VELUX’s dedication to lifetime carbon neutrality over the next two decades, the company is also committed to transparency about its historical CO2 impact over the past 80 years. The company recently partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to capture its historical CO2 emissions via forest conservation and biodiversity initiatives.
By the company’s 100th anniversary in 2041, the organisation plans to be Lifetime Carbon Neutral. Even sooner, by 2030, the company aims to become a carbon neutral company and halve carbon emissions across its value chain, as well as to make its packaging plastic-free. Through forest restoration and biodiversity programs, VELUX is investing in projects specifically developed from the ground and for the company. The first will take place in Uganda in close collaboration with WWF and local communities.
In our interconnected world, companies like VELUX are leading the charge when it comes to corporate responsibility and sustainable values — and this mentality is a window to a brighter, healthier future for its customers.
Learn more about VELUX’s built-to-last roof windows and other innovative products by visiting them online today.
Read more: mashable.com